nice story...

[almaty 19]

GREECE, N.Y. - Jason McElwain had done everything he was asked to do for the Greece Athena High School basketball team — keep the stats, run the clock, hand out water bottles.

That all changed last week for the team manager in the final home game of the season. The 17-year-old senior, who is autistic and usually sits on the bench in a white shirt and black tie, put on a uniform and entered the game with his team way ahead.

McElwain proceeded to hit six 3-point shots, finished with 20 points and was carried off the court on his teammates’ shoulders.

“I ended my career on the right note,” he told The Associated Press by phone Thursday. “I was really hotter than a pistol!”

In recent days, McElwain’s phone has hardly stopped ringing. When his family went out for a meal, he was mobbed by well-wishers. A neighborhood boy came by to get a basketball autographed.

McElwain, 5-foot-6, was considered too small to make the junior varsity, so he signed on as team manager. He took up the same role with the varsity, doing anything to stay near the sport he loves. Coach Jim Johnson was impressed with his dedication, and thought about suiting up McElwain for the home finale.

His performance was jaw-dropping: 20 points in four minutes, making 6-of-10 3-point shots. The crowd went wild.

“It was as touching as any moment I have ever had in sports,” Johnson told the Daily Messenger of Canandaigua.

McElwain didn’t begin speaking until he was 5. He lacked social skills but things got easier as he got older. He found many friends and made his way through school in this Rochester suburb, although many of his classes were limited to a half-dozen students. And he found basketball.

On the varsity, he never misses practice and is a jack-of-all-trades.

“And he is happy to do it,” Johnson said. “He is such a great help and is well-liked by everyone on the team.”

Even though McElwain was in uniform for the Feb. 15 game, there was no guarantee he would play — Athena was battling for a division title.

The fans, however, came prepared. One section of students held up signs bearing his nickname “J-MAC” and cutouts of his face placed on Popsicle sticks.

The Trojans opened a large lead against the team from the nearby Spencerport. With four minutes left, McElwain took the court to deafening cheers.

The ball came to him almost right away. His 3-point shot sailed completely off course, and the coach wondered if he made the wrong move. McElwain then missed a layup. Yet his father, David, was unruffled.

“The thing about Jason is he isn’t afraid of anything,” he told the newspaper. “He doesn’t care what people think about him. He is his own person.”

On the next trip down the floor, McElwain got the ball again. This time he stroked a 3, all net.

He was just warming up.

“As soon as the first shot went in that’s when I started to get going,” he said.

On the next attempt, he got another 3-pointer. Then another, and another. In fact, he would have made one more 3, but his foot was on the line, so he had to settle for 2 points.

Greece Athena won 79-43, and pandemonium reigned. McElwain signed autographs, posed for pictures and was hoisted by his teammates.

The Trojans begin sectional play Saturday and McElwain will be on the bench again, wearing his usual shirt and tie.

It doesn’t bother him. More important, he said, is “trying to win a sectional title for the team.”

McElwain will soon be done with high school basketball, then enroll in business management this fall at Monroe Community College.

“I’ll go on to college and I’ll try to hoop there,” he said. “I just love it, it’s one of the greatest sports in the world.”

[MaryandMian 1]

Very heartwarming story and thanks for posting it.

[Miranda&James 8]

Yeah I heard that on the news, it is a wonderful story. I do therapy with autistic children so it's nice to see them be allowed to shine

[almaty 19]

i have worked with a few children too..i liked the story and the positive message...

[arwensun1965 1]

I loved this story, very heart warming, and close to home. Thank you dean

Janice

[aussiewench 9]

awwwwwwww what a wonderful story. I liked that

[Flames9_RN 358]

Great story and a great kid. Was on the local news and one of the national morning shows interviewd him and his coach! he is off to college next yr.

[Sister Fracas 5]

Yeah, I saw it on TV too... including his six-pointers...

How incredible he must have felt when all of his team mates carried him on their shoulders.

It was a wonderful story!

[KarenCee 3]

I love stories like this...especially since I work with challenged kids like this everyday. What a positive message this sends to special kids...I just love it!

[govols 0]

This story was so awesome! I had heard some people talking about it at work yeterday but didn't know the whole story. Thanks for posting it .

Karen

[almaty 19]

i was pleased to post it...i admire that youngster..

[Dixie_Peach 1]

I loved that story! Thank you Bro Dean for posting it. Do ya'll know what else I love about that story? More times than not - whenever I read the news... there is never anything GOOD... this story gave me a lift... because it shows that people's hearts can still be touched... that not everybody is full of piss and vinegar... that love, respect and admiration are still key factors!

Awwwwwwwwww... *huge hugs* to the VJ clan!

Blessings to all!

Lynne

[yogib37 3]

He is the RUDY of Basketball.

That is very nice. I bet he will have a spot in the college ranks..Maybe as his main role but he is a good kid.

[IAMSADIA 0]

I love that story! my boy is almost 13 and he's low functioning autistic. he is not afraid of anything .

have not had the opurtunity to meet many parents like myself but my son is a big challenge with big smiles on his face. he is a runner and his latest ran to mcdonalds his fav place in the world,,(as I was showering)..I could not believe this but he broke out of his window that was locked,,he hadnt figured it out til now but he

ran in the snow without any shoes or socks just to get to mcdonalds. about 10 blocks.

I called 911 after a neighbor alerted me she said george running down 45th and the police brought him home and the mcdonalds staff was wonderful,putting socks on his feet and keeping him safe til police arrived.

have since put metal bars on his window now,and am getting an ID bracelett for him.

he is nonverabl and depends on us his parents and teachers for everything.

most everyone in our building and nieghborhood watch out for george and he has a wonderful school he attends ,I think he would do well in special olympics he is gifted in running fast!

I dont know how I would be able to cope though with the demands of everything if not for easterseals goodwill,I have a 5 yr old also and one on the way but the staff from easter seals really does wonderful things, respite care and outside activities with both of my kids.

I wish more then anything my son was like the boy in this story,he cant even say one single word.

he's in diapers and everything and the most amazing thing is he looks incredibly normal no one would ever guess he's handicapped until spending about 10 min with him.

what a nice story though,,just a great thing for people to hear about our challenged kids in the world.

Sadia

[isleta521 5]

Heartwarming. Just goes to show what you can do if you put your mind to it. Kindoff reminds me of the movie Radio.

Thanks for the story.